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While hundreds of University of Louisville students prepare to hit the beach this spring break, several campus organizations are gearing up to serve their community. U of L service programs such as the Baptist Campus Ministries, Alternative Spring Break and the International Service Learning Program are preparing for cross-country excursions to help their fellow travelers enjoy the vacation.
One group, the Baptist Campus Ministries, has developed a way to serve college aged students with their “Beach Reach” initiative. This program sends BCM members to Panama City Beach every year to help spring-breakers stay safe when traveling to the popular vacation destination.
Junior BCM member Andrew Chacko said the Beach Reach program offers van rides to and from Panama City hot spots and serves a pancake breakfast in the morning. “This is a great way to serve our peers, fellow college students,” said Chacko, a biology major. “It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I encourage students to get involved with service during spring break.”
Chacko, who is preparing for his third Beach Reach, added that traveling to Florida is definitely a perk to program. “Not only do we get to serve, but we get to enjoy ourselves and have a good spring break.”
Another campus organization, Alternative Spring Break, plans to reach out to the citizens of Mullens, W.Va. next month. In July 2001, Mullens was nearly destroyed in a flood, according to participant Teresa de la Cruz, a political science major.
“I think of it as a good use of my time during the break,” said Cruz, “and not only do I enjoy the service, but I love the people I’ve met so far [preparing for the trip].” Cruz, a junior, said she is donating her spring break because college students in general don’t give enough time to charity.
According to the ASB Web site, the program encourages students to develop their leadership and managerial skills through service. Over the past few years, ASB has sent groups to South Carolina, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
One final group takes its mission across national borders. The International Service Learning Program has established ties to the English-speaking nation of Belize and sends multi-disciplined students to the Central American country each year. Now in its 11th year, the program has expanded to include 100 students who will serve various areas in the country relating to their respective majors, including dentistry and medicine. Participant and U of L sophomore Rudy Spencer said that in addition to serve, he hopes to learn about the Belizean government on the trip.
“You should always give back to someone,” said Spencer, a political science major, “and I can’t think of a better way to do it than on an international level.” Spencer said he would be learning about the criminal justice system of Belize by visiting jails in Belize City. The cost of this trip is approximately $2,250 per student, said Spencer.
It’s too late to join these projects now, but interested students are encouraged to apply to next year’s programs.
